wagamama cardiff mermaid quay

You're walking along Mermaid Quay on a Friday night and the neon glow of wagamama pulls you in like a beacon. The space is all high ceilings, open kitchen theatre, and communal tables where you'll find everyone from date-nighters to groups of mates getting stuck into bowls of tonkotsu. The menu's a greatest hits of Japanese and East Asian comfort food — ramen that actually has depth, gyoza that justify their reputation, and crispy katsu that's more moreish than it should be. The cocktail list is where things get interesting; they've clearly put thought into matching drinks with the food rather than just slapping together an afterthought menu.